James POV
“So the solution to the fact that Sirius is going to kill me for snogging you is for us to date?” I look at him in disbelief, maybe he’s finally cracked, Sirius talks all the time about the Black family madness.
“No,” he says cooly, “my solution to the fact that the biggest rumor in the history of this school is going around at this very moment is for us to date.”
“Absolutely not, Black,” he flinches slightly and I step back, “we can’t date.”
“Well it wouldn’t be real,” he says as if it's obvious and I stare blankly, “what you didn’t think I fancied you did you Potter?”
I didn’t necessarily believe that Regulus fancied me, no, but maybe there was something there he was trying to figure out. Maybe that was why he was keeping his distance from me. I really didn’t see another explanation for why he was so cold towards me all the time.
“Well-” before I can finish he stands up and comes toe to toe with me and I feel his breath against my face, “don’t for a second that you are anything but a means to and end, you took my brother from me, long before he moved out, “ he adds when I start to speak, “I hate you with every fiber of my being however I hate the feeling of girls running their hands over me more so fake dating you would save me from those unfortunate experiences that is all that this is.”
He steps back and I take a second to collect myself. Regulus hates me, he hates me so much that the idea of dating me even fake disgusts him. Was I that bad, is that why Lily wouldn’t date me? Was the idea of being with me really the worst thing possible? I could feel pin pricks against the backs of my eyes so I collected myself before shooting back even more cooly, “What's in it for me?”
“What?” He blinks at me.
“Well don’t look so startled, this is something that could potentially put my future at risk, you do realize we’re both heirs to very large Kingdoms do you not?”
“Of course I know,” he hisses, “that is precisely the reason you should do this.”
“Now I’m lost,” I throw my hands up.
“Please Potter, I've seen you pine over the same girl my entire time at Hogwarts,” I frown, recalling the conversation from the dorms earlier, “that will make you less desirable.”
“Please,” I scoff, “I am from one of the biggest kingdoms and I mean look at me, I’m plenty desirable.” I say that but that's now two people that have decided that dating me is the worst fate.
“No woman is going to want to marry a man they think is in love with someone else,” he rolls his eyes, with the amount of times he does this I’m surprised they’re still in his sockets.
“Wouldn’t dating you defeat the purpose, they’ll think I’m in love with you.” I point out.
“Oh my god Potter must I spell everything out for you, people will see you with me and want what they can’t have, that makes you desirable, then we have a very public break up which you turn out to be the good guy and everyone loves you and now you’re single and desirable, honestly I thought you had at least a little bit of a brain.”
I bite my lips not feeling right about this, “wouldn’t that make you less desirable then? If you looked like the bad guy in the breakup?”
“It wouldn’t matter anyways,” he huffs out a laugh, “mother will force a marriage no matter how much either of us do or don’t want it.”
“I frown even harder, “Reg-”
“Don’t,” he hisses, “do we have a deal or not Potter.”
“I’ll have to talk to Sirius, I won’t betray his trust like that.” I frown down at the ground, “here let me have your tie and I’ll figure out a way to tell you yes or no.”
“Of course anything for saint Sirius, the good brother,”his voice is bitter but he still pulls off his tie, handing it to me before he goes to turn.
“He’s my best friend Regulus, I can't hurt him,” I reach out and stop him.
“He was my brother first, it didn’t stop him,” he pulls away and walks out of the door the sound echoing off the wall in his wake.